Elements and Performance Criteria

Sustainability
Sustainability incorporates the three aspects of:
survival of the ecology/physical environment (to manage the impact of the business to ensure the survival of the physical environment)
economic viability (efficiency, cost and waste reduction and competitiveness to support survival of the business)
social sustainability (to manage the impact of the business to ensure its continued survival within the community and the survival of the community)
System
A system is that process, or part of a process, which has been selected for analysis. It includes all the steps in the process which fall within the defined boundary. These steps have been referred to as ‘sub-systems above. The system may be any part of the value chain or the entire value chain
Sub-system
A sub-system is part of the system which may be chosen for separate analysis or study
Portion of the value chain
Value chain is the sequence of activities that a firm undertakes to create value/product (good or service). Portion of the value chain includes:
sections internal or external to the organisation
Mass/energy balancing
Mass balancing is an analysis technique which allows for the calculation of mass flows and consumption through a process and losses of mass from the system/product
Energy balancing is an analysis technique which allows for the calculation of energy flows and consumption through a process and the losses of energy from the system/product
Mass and energy balancing may be undertaken as separate activities or in some circumstances as a combined mass/energy balance
Appropriate response
Appropriate response includes:
application of the hierarchy of hazard control to sustainability hazards
when the impact cannot be prevented application of mitigation and amelioration techniques, such as:
capture and storage (e.g. scrubbing) and similar ‘end of pipe’ solutions
dilution/dispersion and similar techniques which reduce concentration but not amount
other approaches which meet the sustainability requirements

Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to analyse processes or part or all of a value chain using mass and/or energy balancing as appropriate.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:
undertaking a mass and an energy balance (which may be on different systems) or a combined mass/energy balance
identifying appropriate responses
communicating the above as appropriate
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.
Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.
This unit of competency may be assessed with other relevant units addressing sustainability at the enterprise level or other units requiring the exercise of the skills and knowledge covered by this unit.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Method of assessment
In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.
Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.
The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.
Guidance information for assessment